Real-time quantitative PCR array to study drug-induced changes of gene expression in tumor cell lines

Aim: Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is still the “gold standard” for quantitative analysis of mRNA and the study of differentially expressed genes. Methods: The authors describe a RT-qPCR array that exploits SYBR Green dye-based detection to perform reliable gene expression analysis on 41 genes involved in several pathways linked to DNA damage response, cell cycle progression, cellular senescence, and programmed cell death. To validate the RT-qPCR array, the authors investigated changes of the gene expression profile of HeLa cells treated with two well-characterized antiproliferative molecules such as cisplatin (CDDP) and sodium butyrate (NaBu). Results: The results showed a gene expression profile compatible with both biological and gene expression data already reported in literature. Conclusion: Importantly, the assay allowed the monitoring of additional and not reported gene regulations, indicating that this custom-made RT-qPCR array is a cheap, robust, and rapid tool for the study of drug-induced effects in human biological models.